Lifting mechanism with lift stand accommodation

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a lifting mechanism with lift stand accommodation, which is used to allow a lift stand to reside within its bounding space. The present invention comprises a lifting mechanism and a Y-shaped chassis. The Y-shaped chassis comprises a lift mechanism housing and a U-shaped base. The U-shaped base comprises a base slot that allows a jack stand frame to be inserted between its left and right end. The lifting mechanism is used to raise and lower an object from its initial position. The lifting mechanism comprises a left support arm, a right support arm, a lift arm and a U-shaped lift platform. The U-shaped platform comprises a platform slot that can allow a jack stand saddle to be inserted between its left platform end and right platform end. A brace maintains the rigidity of the lift arm, the left support arm, and the right support arm.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application is a reissue of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/426,849, filed Mar. 22, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,684,332, issuedApr. 1, 2014, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

The present invention relates generally to vehicle lift mechanisms. Inparticular, the objective of the present invention is to raise a vehicleabout its designated lifting point, while accepting a common jack standwithin the same space as the present invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

To perform maintenance on a vehicle, a hydraulic jack is used to raisethe vehicle from its current position, in which a jack stand is used tomaintain the current raised height of the vehicle. Conventionalhydraulic jacks must raise a vehicle at a location that is not withinthe vicinity of designated lifting area that the jack stand is requiredto be placed. This problem can pose safety risks and maneuverabilitydifficulties. The present invention simplifies this problem using aslotted lifting platform and a slotted base. The present invention is alifting mechanism with lift stand accommodation that allows an object tobe lifted about a point while also allowing a lift stand, a jack stand,or any similar existing technology to be positioned within the spacethat the present invention occupies. The slotted base and the slottedlifting platform together provide this additional function to suchhydraulic jacks.

It is understood that the described version of the present invention isnot limited entirely to hydraulic lifting mechanisms, and that anylifting technology can provide the lifting function.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a right perspective view of the present invention thereof,showing the plane upon which a cross-sectional view is taken and shownin FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a top side cross-sectional view thereof taken along line 3-3of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an isometric perspective view of the present inventionthereof, showing a conventional lift stand positioned within the spacethat the present invention occupies.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describingselected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limitthe scope of the present invention.

The present invention is a vehicle lift mechanism that provides theability to have a conventional jack stand 3 inserted within its boundingspace durance any instance in the lift process. The lift process isdefined as the process in which the present invention raises theposition of the vehicle above its initial height. The U-shaped base 10and the U-shaped lift platform 22 of the present invention provide theadditional function of allowing a conventional jack stand 3 to beinserted within the same lift space that the present invention occupies.There are two main components that provide this function: the Y-shapedjack chassis 1, and the U-shaped lift platform 22 of the lift mechanism.FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows theembodiment of the present invention with a conventional jack stand 3within the base slot 13 and the platform slot 23—an example of how aconventional jack stand 3 would be located within the same space as thepresent invention. The conventional jack stand frame 30 is within thebase slot 13, and the conventional jack stand saddle 31 is within theplatform slot 23.

The Y-shaped jack chassis 1 comprises a U-shaped base 10 and a liftmechanism housing 16, which are shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4. The U-shapedbase 10 has a base slot 13, which is positioned symmetrically within theleft end 11 and the right end 12 of the U-shaped base 10. This resultingarrangement of the U-shaped base 10 should similarly resemble the shapeof the capital letter “U.” The base slot 13 in its preferred embodimentshould have the ability to house any conventional jack stand frame. Thisallows a conventional jack stand frame 30 to be positioned in betweenthe left end 11 and the right end 12 of the U-shaped base 10 withouthaving to adjust the current position of the Y-shaped jack chassis 1during the lift process. The lift mechanism housing 16 is connected tothe U-shaped base 10, opposite of the base slot 13. The resulting shapeof the Y-shaped jack chassis 1 from the combination of these twocomponents should similarly resemble the capital letter “Y.” Such anarrangement gives the present invention a three point base, which shouldincrease its stability whenever the elevation of the lifted vehicleincreases during the lift process. The left end 11 and the right end 12of the U-shaped base 10 increase the stability of the present inventionduring the lift process because the Y-shaped does not rest upon acentral rest point, which can allow swaying; however, the U-shaped base10 is divided into two equidistant rest points from the presentinvention's centroid, which are symmetrical about the lift mechanismhousing 16—the lift mechanism housing 16 provides a third rest point.Therefore, the present invention will remain rigid and in place if aconventional jack stand 3 is to be inserted within the bounding space ofthe U-shaped base 10. Within the lift mechanism housing 16 is a liftmechanism cavity 17, which the lift actuator 26 is housed. This is shownin the cross sectional portion, 3-3, of FIG. 3. A lift arm slot 112 ispositioned atop the lift mechanism housing 16, near the U-shaped base10. A lever slot 113 is positioned atop the lift mechanism housing 16,adjacent to the lever slot 113. Each the lift arm slot 112 and the leverslot 113 traverse the lift mechanism housing 16 into the lift mechanismcavity 17.

The lift mechanism 2 provides the lift during the lift process. The liftmechanism 2 comprises a lift actuator 26, a lift arm 21, a right supportarm 28, a left support arm 27, a lever 20 and a U-shaped lift platform22. These components are shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 4. Similar tothe U-shaped base 10, a platform slot 23 is positioned within the leftplatform end 24 and the right platform end 25 on the U-shaped liftplatform 22; concurrently, the U-shaped base 10 should similarlyresemble the shape of the capital letter “U.” The platform slot 23 inits preferred embodiment should be able to house any conventional jackstand saddle 31 or any plurality of similar functional components to aconventional jack stand that holds the designated lift section of avehicle. Also, the U-shaped lift platform 22, in its preferredembodiment, should have a sufficient surface area, so that it caneffectively accept the load of a vehicle and remain rigid during thelift process. It is the shape of the U-shaped lift platform 22 thatprovides the functional ability to allow such a conventional jack standsaddle 31 to receive the weight of a vehicle without altering theposition of the present invention, whenever a conventional jack stand 3is needed. Once the conventional jack stand 3 receives the load of thevehicle, the lift process can be reversed and the present invention maybe removed from its current position.

The lift actuator 26 comprises a lever connection 210 and an actuatorarm, which is shown in FIG. 3. A lift actuator 26 is necessary for alift process because it can convert a users' energy into mechanicallifting energy. The lever 20 of the lifting mechanism traverses throughthe lever slot 113 on the lift mechanism housing 16, wherein the lever20 is mechanically connected to the lever connection 210 of the liftactuator 26. The lift actuator 26, in its preferred embodiment, is ahydraulic pump that magnifies a smaller force into a larger force. Thepresent invention assumes the lift actuator 26 uses existing or futurehydraulic technology that converts a users' energy to lift. For example,such a process involves using the lever 20 to pump a fluid from acylinder of a given surface area to a cylinder of larger surface area.The applied force from “pumping” or repeated rotations of the lever 20is transferred to the lift actuator arm 29, causing the lift arm 21 totranslate laterally. The actuator arm 29 is mechanically connected tothe lift actuator 26, in which the actuator arm 29 can both translateand rotate.

The U-shaped lift platform 22 is rotationally connected by the leftsupport arm 27 and the right support arm 28. Each the left support arm27 and the right support arm 28 are rotationally connected to the liftmechanism housing 16. Both the left support arm 27 and the right supportarm 28 allow the U-shaped lift platform 22 to remain horizontal andparallel to the ground surface which the present invention restsupon—serving as stabilizers. Also, both the left support arm 27 and theright support arm 28 assist the lift arm 21 by partially distributingthe load of the vehicle during the lift process. The lift arm 21 ispivotally connected to the lift mechanism housing 16 within the lift armslot 112. The location of this connection is the pivot axis of the liftarm 21, which in its preferred embodiment will provide the lift functionthe present invention. This lift, or rotation of the lift arm 21, isapplied by the lift actuator 26. The bottom of the lift arm 21 isrotationally connected to the actuator arm 29. The translation of thelift arm 21 due to the lift actuator 26 being engaged allows the liftarm 21 to rotate about its pivoted connection with the lift mechanismhousing 16 as aforementioned. Since the lift arm 21, the left supportarm 27, and the right support arm 28 are each rotationally connected tothe U-shaped lift platform 22, both the left support arm 27 and theright support arm 28 should rotate in a similar direction as the liftarm 21 during the lift process.

The rotational connections of the lift arm 21, the left support arm 27and the right support 28 arm to the U-shaped lift platform 22 allow theU-shaped lift platform 22 to remain level with the ground surface. Inother words, the U-shaped lift platform remains horizontal throughoutthe entire lift process. The U-shaped platform 22 is able to remainhorizontal because the left support arm 27 and the right support arm 28are offset a designated spatial distance from the lift arm 21. Although,the U-shaped lift platform 22 should remain horizontal if the rotationalconnections of the lift arm 21, the left support arm 27 and the rightsupport arm 28 are similarly rotationally connected to the liftmechanism housing 16 with similar spatial offset distances. Therefore,the left support arm 27 and the right support arm 28 should rotateconcentrically with the lift arm 21 during the lift process which shouldresult in the U-shaped lift platform 22 remaining horizontal.

Because there is unequal load distribution through the lift arm 21 andeach the left 27 support arm and the right support arm 28, a brace 211is used to maintain the rigidity of each the left support arm 27, theright support arm 28, and the lift arm 21. The brace 211 is shown inFIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 4. The brace 211 mechanically attaches to theleft support arm 27, the right support arm 28, and the lift arm 21;while the brace 211 partially encloses the outer surfaces of the leftsupport arm 27, the right arm 28, and the lift arm 21. The brace 211will prevent the left support arm 27 and the right support arm 28 frombowing during the lift process.

It is important to have wheels on the Y-shaped jack chassis 1 to allowthe present invention to be removed quickly and safely from under avehicle after a conventional jack stand 3 has been locked into position.This removal process should begin while a conventional jack stand 3 iswithin the platform slot 23—a quick removal reduces safety risks. A leftend wheel 14 and a right end wheel 15 are attached to the left end 11and the right end 12 of the U-shaped base 10. Both are shown in FIG.1-4. Furthermore, the left end wheel 14 is enclosed by the left end 11of the U-shaped base 10, which resides in the left end wheel slot 116.The left end wheel slot 116 is positioned on the left end 11 of theU-shaped base 10. Also, the right end wheel 15 is enclosed by the rightend 12 of the U-shaped base 10, which resides in the right end wheelslot 117. The right end wheel slot 117 is positioned on the right end 12of the U-shaped base 10. Each the left end wheel 14 and the right endwheel 15 rotate about a wheel axle 114. Having such wheels enclosedwithin the U-shaped base 10 as opposed to having such wheels enclosingthe left end 11 and the right end 12 maximizes space within the baseslot 13. A sharper turning radius is sometimes necessary when thepresent invention resides in an area with reduced space, increasingmaneuverability. In order for the present invention to have a sharperturning radius a pair of pivot wheels—a left pivot wheel 18 and a rightpivot wheel 19—are attached to the lift mechanism housing 16. Pivotwheels have the ability to rotate about the axis which is perpendicularto the axis of the pivot wheel axle 114. The pivot wheel axle 114 canrotate in such a manner because it is rotationally attached to a pivotwheel housing. This allows the present invention to be steered, allowingnon-linear movement. The left pivot wheel 18 resides within the leftpivot wheel housing 110, in which a pivot wheel axle 114 traversesthrough the left pivot wheel 18 and the left pivot wheel housing 110.The right pivot wheel 19 resides within the right pivot wheel housing111, in which a pivot wheel axle 114 traverses through the right pivotwheel 19 and the right pivot wheel housing 111. Each pivot wheel axle114 is rotationally fixed to its housing.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferredembodiment, it is to be understood that many other possiblemodifications and variations can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A lifting mechanism with lift stand accommodationcomprises, a Y-shaped jack chassis; a lift mechanism; the Y-shaped jackchassis comprises a U-shaped base and a lift mechanism housing; theU-shaped base comprises a left end, a right end, a left end wheel slot,a right end wheel slot, a base slot, a left end wheel, and a right endwheel; the left end wheel and the right end wheel each comprise a wheelaxle; the lift mechanism housing comprises a lifting mechanism cavity, aleft pivot wheel, a right pivot wheel, a left pivot wheel housing, aright pivot wheel housing, a pair of pivot wheel axles, a lift arm slot,and a lever slot; the lifting mechanism comprises a brace, lever, a liftarm, a U-shaped lift platform, a lift actuator, a left support arm, anda right support arm; the U-shaped lift platform comprises a platformslot, a left platform end, and a right platform end; and the liftactuator comprises a lever connection and an actuator arm.
 2. Thelifting mechanism with lift stand accommodation as claimed in claim 1comprises, the base slot being positioned in the U-shaped base betweenthe left end and the right end; the lift mechanism housing beingconnected to the U-shaped base, opposite of the base slot; the platformslot being positioned in the U-shaped lift platform between the leftplatform end and the right platform end; the left end wheel slottraversing into the left end; and the right end wheel slot traversinginto the right end.
 3. The lifting mechanism with lift standaccommodation as claimed in claim 2 comprises, the left front wheelbeing partially housed within the left end wheel slot; the right frontwheel being partially housed within the right end wheel slot; the leftpivot wheel housing being connected to the lift mechanism housing,adjacent to the lift arm; the right pivot wheel housing being connectedto the lift mechanism housing, opposite of the left pivot wheel housing;the left pivot wheel being rotationally attached to the left pivot wheelhousing; and the right pivot wheel being rotationally attached to theright pivot wheel housing.
 4. The lifting mechanism with lift standaccommodation as claimed in claim 3 comprises, each the left front wheeland the right front wheel being traversed by a wheel axle; the wheelaxle traversing the left front wheel being rotatably attached across theleft front wheel slot; the wheel axle traversing the right front wheelbeing rotatably attached across the right front wheel slot; the leftpivot wheel and the right pivot wheel being each being traversed by apivot wheel axle; a pivot wheel axle being rotationally connected to theleft pivot wheel housing; and a pivot wheel axle being rotationallyconnected to the right pivot wheel housing.
 5. The lifting mechanismwith lift stand accommodation as claimed in claim 1 comprises, the liftmechanism cavity being located within the lift mechanism housing; thelift arm slot positioned atop the lift mechanism housing; and the leverslot being positioned atop the lift mechanism housing, adjacent to thelift arm slot.
 6. The lifting mechanism with lift stand accommodation asclaimed in claim 5 comprises, the lift arm slot traverses through thelift mechanism housing into the lift mechanism cavity; the lever slottraverses through the lift mechanism housing into the lift mechanismcavity, opposite to the lift arm slot; the lift actuator being housedwithin the lift mechanism cavity; and the lever being mechanicallyattached to the actuator.
 7. The lifting mechanism with lift standaccommodation as claimed in claim 6 comprises, the lift actuator being ahydraulic pump.
 8. The lifting mechanism with lift stand accommodationas claimed in claim 1 comprises, the left support arm being rotatablyconnected to the U-shaped platform; the left support arm being rotatablyconnected to the lift mechanism housing, opposite of the U-shapedplatform; the right support arm being rotatably connected to theU-shaped platform, adjacent to the left support arm; the right supportarm being rotatably connected to the lift mechanism housing, opposite ofthe U-shaped platform; the lift arm being rotatably connected to theU-shaped platform; the lift arm being pivotally connected to the liftmechanism housing, within the lift arm slot; the lift arm beingrotatably connected to the lift actuator arm, opposite of the U-shapedplatform; and the brace being mechanically attached each the leftsupport arm, the right support arm, and the lift arm.
 9. A liftingmechanism with lift stand accommodation comprises, a Y-shaped jackchassis; a lift mechanism; the Y-shaped jack chassis comprises aU-shaped base and a lift mechanism housing; the U-shaped base comprisesa left end, a right end, a left end wheel slot, a right end wheel slot,a base slot, a left end wheel, and a right end wheel; the left end wheeland the right end wheel each comprise a wheel axle; the lift mechanismhousing comprises a lifting mechanism cavity, a left pivot wheel, aright pivot wheel, a left pivot wheel housing, a right pivot wheelhousing, a pair of pivot wheel axles, a lift arm slot, and a lever slot;the lifting mechanism comprises a brace lever, a lift arm, a U-shapedlift platform, a lift actuator, a left support arm, and a right supportarm; the U-shaped lift platform comprises a platform slot, a leftplatform end, and a right platform end; the lift actuator comprises alever connection and an actuator arm; the base slot being positioned inthe U-shaped base between the left end and the right end; and theplatform slot being positioned in the U-shaped lift platform between theleft platform end and the right platform end.
 10. The lifting mechanismwith lift stand accommodation as claimed in claim 9 comprises, the liftmechanism housing being connected to the U-shaped base, opposite of thebase slot; the left end wheel slot traversing into the left end; theright end wheel slot traversing into the right end; the left end wheelbeing partially housed within the left end wheel slot; and the right endwheel being partially housed within the right end wheel slot.
 11. Thelifting mechanism with lift stand accommodation as claimed in claim 10comprises, the left pivot wheel housing being connected to the liftmechanism housing, adjacent to the lift arm; the right pivot wheelhousing being connected to the lift mechanism housing, opposite of theleft pivot wheel housing; the left pivot wheel being rotationallyattached to the left pivot wheel housing; the right pivot wheel beingrotationally attached to the right pivot wheel housing; each the leftend wheel and the right end wheel being traversed by a wheel axle; thewheel axle traversing the left end wheel being rotatably attached acrossthe left end wheel slot; the wheel axle traversing the right end wheelbeing rotatably attached across the right end wheel slot; the left pivotwheel and the right pivot wheel being each being traversed by a pivotwheel axle; a pivot wheel axle being rotationally connected to the leftpivot wheel housing; and a pivot wheel axle being rotationally connectedto the right pivot wheel housing.
 12. The lifting mechanism with liftstand accommodation as claimed in claim 9 comprises, the lift mechanismcavity being located within the lift mechanism housing; the lift armslot positioned atop the lift mechanism housing; the lever slot beingpositioned atop the lift mechanism housing, adjacent to the lift armslot; and the lift arm slot traverses through the lift mechanism housinginto the lift mechanism cavity.
 13. The lifting mechanism with liftstand accommodation as claimed in claim 12 comprises, the lever slottraverses through the lift mechanism housing into the lift mechanismcavity, opposite to the lift arm slot; the lift actuator being housedwithin the lift mechanism cavity; and the lever being mechanicallyattached to the actuator.
 14. The lifting mechanism with lift standaccommodation as claimed in claim 13 comprises, the lift actuator beinga hydraulic pump.
 15. The lifting mechanism with lift standaccommodation as claimed in claim 9 comprises, the left support armbeing rotatably connected to the U-shaped platform; the left support armbeing rotatably connected to the lift mechanism housing, opposite of theU-shaped platform; the right support arm being rotatably connected tothe U-shaped platform, adjacent to the left support arm; the rightsupport arm being rotatably connected to the lift mechanism housing,opposite of the U-shaped platform; the lift arm being rotatablyconnected to the U-shaped platform; the lift arm being pivotallyconnected to the lift mechanism housing, within the lift arm slot; thelift arm being rotatably connected to the lift actuator arm, opposite ofthe U-shaped platform; and the brace being mechanically attached eachthe left support arm, the right support arm, and the lift arm.
 16. Alifting mechanism with lift stand accommodation comprises, a Y-shapedjack chassis; a lift mechanism; the Y-shaped jack chassis comprises aU-shaped base and a lift mechanism housing; the U-shaped base comprisesa left end, a right end, a left end wheel slot, a right end wheel slot,a base slot, a left end wheel, and a right end wheel; the left end wheeland the right end wheel each comprise a wheel axle; the lift mechanismhousing comprises a lifting mechanism cavity, a left pivot wheel, aright pivot wheel, a left pivot wheel housing, a right pivot wheelhousing, a pair of pivot wheel axles, a lift arm slot, and a lever slot;the lifting mechanism comprises a brace, lever, a lift arm, a U-shapedlift platform, a lift actuator, a left support arm, and a right supportarm; the U-shaped lift platform comprises a platform slot, a leftplatform end, and a right platform end; the lift actuator comprises alever connection and an actuator arm; the base slot being positioned inthe U-shaped base between the left end and the right end; the platformslot being positioned in the U-shaped lift platform between the leftplatform end and the right platform end; the left end wheel beingpartially housed within the left end wheel slot; and the right end wheelbeing partially housed within the right end wheel slot.
 17. The liftingmechanism with lift stand accommodation as claimed in claim 16comprises, the lift mechanism housing being connected to the U-shapedbase, opposite of the base slot; the left end wheel slot traversing intothe left end; the right end wheel slot traversing into the right end;the left pivot wheel housing being connected to the lift mechanismhousing, adjacent to the lift arm; the right pivot wheel housing beingconnected to the lift mechanism housing, opposite of the left pivotwheel housing; the left pivot wheel being rotationally attached to theleft pivot wheel housing; the right pivot wheel being rotationallyattached to the right pivot wheel housing; and each the left end wheeland the right end wheel being traversed by a wheel axle.
 18. The liftingmechanism with lift stand accommodation as claimed in claim 17comprises, the lift mechanism cavity being located within the liftmechanism housing; the lift arm slot positioned atop the lift mechanismhousing; the lever slot being positioned atop the lift mechanismhousing, adjacent to the lift arm slot; the lever slot traverses throughthe lift mechanism housing into the lift mechanism cavity, opposite tothe lift arm slot; the lift arm slot traverses through the liftmechanism housing into the lift mechanism cavity; the wheel axletraversing the left end wheel being rotatably attached across the leftend wheel slot; the wheel axle traversing the right end wheel beingrotatably attached across the right end wheel slot; the left pivot wheeland the right pivot wheel being each being traversed by a pivot wheelaxle; a pivot wheel axle being rotationally connected to the left pivotwheel housing; and a pivot wheel axle being rotationally connected tothe right pivot wheel housing.
 19. The lifting mechanism with lift standaccommodation as claimed in claim 16 comprises, the lift actuator beinghoused within the lift mechanism cavity; and the lever beingmechanically attached to the actuator.
 20. The lifting mechanism withlift stand accommodation as claimed in claim 16 comprises, the leftsupport arm being rotatably connected to the U-shaped platform; the leftsupport arm being rotatably connected to the lift mechanism housing,opposite of the U-shaped platform; the right support arm being rotatablyconnected to the U-shaped platform, adjacent to the left support arm;the right support arm being rotatably connected to the lift mechanismhousing, opposite of the U-shaped platform; the lift arm being rotatablyconnected to the U-shaped platform; the lift arm being pivotallyconnected to the lift mechanism housing, within the lift arm slot; thelift arm being rotatably connected to the lift actuator arm, opposite ofthe U-shaped platform; and the brace being mechanically attached eachthe left support arm, the right support arm, and the lift arm.
 21. Amethod of raising a load, comprising: providing a lifting mechanism thatincludes: a base formed to include a left base end and a right base end,wherein a base slot separates the left base end from the right base end;a platform having a left platform end and a right platform end, whereina platform slot separates the left platform end from the right platformend; and a lift actuator for raising the platform in relation to thebase; raising the load using the lifting mechanism; then after the loadhas been raised, positioning a jack stand in relation to the liftingmechanism by: (a) inserting an upper portion of the jack stand withinthe platform slot; and (b) inserting a lower portion of the jack standwithin the base slot.
 22. The method of claim 21, further including,allowing the jack stand to receive the load.
 23. The method of claim 22,further including removing the lifting mechanism from a currentposition.
 24. The method of claim 21, wherein positioning the jack standincludes not adjusting the position of the lifting mechanism.